In a fiery interview on CNN’s State of the Union, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke delivered an unfiltered glimpse into the Democrats’ 2025 strategy: raw, unflinching political warfare. Speaking with host Jake Tapper, O’Rourke made clear that civility and fair play are being shoved aside. The new Democrat doctrine? Be “absolutely ruthless about getting back in power.”

His comments came amid a broader discussion about Texas’s special legislative session, where Republican leaders are advancing a redistricting plan that could reshape the congressional map. Democrats, now in the minority in Texas, are scrambling to block the move, even considering denying quorum to stall the session—a tactic borrowed from their 2021 walkout over voter integrity laws.

But O’Rourke’s ambitions go far beyond Texas. He suggested Democrats should abandon their long-standing calls for nonpartisan redistricting in blue states and instead gerrymander just as aggressively wherever they control state governments.

“Governor Gavin Newsom has talked about redistricting in his state,” he said. “I think it’s time that we match fire with fire.”

In other words: principles are out, power is in. O’Rourke openly criticized his own party’s past restraint, saying Democrats have been “more concerned with being right than being in power.” To him, that’s a mistake that must end now. If Democrats have control of a state like California, Illinois, or New York, O’Rourke insists they should use it “to its absolute extent”—even if it means rigging the system in their favor.

Tapper challenged him, pointing out that California currently uses an independent redistricting commission designed to promote fairness. O’Rourke didn’t flinch. Yes, he said, even in California, Democrats should throw out neutrality and gerrymander with the best of them. “We have to get serious,” he said. “We have to be absolutely ruthless.”

That’s the key word: ruthless. It’s a term that cuts both ways—unapologetic and willing to bend or break norms to gain advantage. And it shows just how far Democrats are willing to go, not just in their rhetoric, but in their actions across redistricting, lawfare, and election manipulation.

O’Rourke also acknowledged the risk of overreaching, suggesting that redistricting could backfire on Republicans if it disperses GOP voters too thinly across too many districts. But he framed this as a possible benefit for Democrats, not a cautionary tale. The underlying message remained: fight everywhere, win everywhere, and don’t let conscience get in the way.

This moment is a window into what lies ahead. As President Trump continues to rack up wins and expand his influence, Democrats are preparing to counter not with policy, but with raw political muscle. That means suppressing dissent, manipulating the electoral map, and weaponizing state governments to rewrite the rules.

O’Rourke’s message isn’t just about redistricting. It’s about a broader strategy to retake Congress, the White House, and control of the narrative by any means necessary. The days of “when they go low, we go high” are officially over—if they ever existed at all.

Expect more Democrats to follow Beto’s lead, especially in deep-blue states where the party can rewrite political boundaries and entrench power. The mask has come off. The only question now is how Republicans will respond to a Democratic Party that’s not just playing hardball—but rewriting the rules of the game.